Relapse is unfortunately very common among people who suffer from alcoholism and drug abuse. Many things can trigger a relapse, from running into an old friend who is an addict to losing a job and using drugs or alcohol to numb the depression. Receiving insufficient addiction treatment makes future relapses much more likely. The good news is that there are a number of measure people can use to reduce the chances of a relapse.

Some rehab facilities offer aftercare programs. These can be variety of services that seek to provide ongoing support and guidance to the addict after returning home from the treatment program. This usually includes phone calls with a counselor or future visits back to the treatment center. Individuals who have these services available to them should not hesitate to take advantage of them. If an addict has no aftercare services from a previous rehab facility available, they can make an appointment with a counselor or call a crisis hotline.

Another way to prevent relapses is to avoid high-risk situations. Counselors can teach the skills of how to identify and avoid situations that are like to lead to alcohol and drug use in the future. Some addicts have certain places they don’t go or people they no longer associate with, because these things increase the temptation to return to old addiction habits.

Keeping busy with productive activities can help an addict keep from returning to alcohol and drug abuse habits. Things like holding a steady job and having hobbies keep one’s mind occupied. This will also give the addict an alternative activity to choose over drugs and alcohol.

Enlisting the help of family and friends is another way to avoid relapsing into alcoholism and drug abuse. An addict may need to ask that loved ones monitor them with a close eye for a while, to help them stay out of risky situations and avoid getting access to the substances of addiction.

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